TANZANIA: New Agreement Between Fair Trade Tourism And Responsible Tourism Tanzania

Fair Trade Tourism's expansion into Africa has been given a boost through its signing of a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with Responsible Tourism Tanzania this month. The agreement allows Responsible Tourism Tanzania's "Tree Level" businesses to be eligible for marketing under the Fair Trade Holiday brand.

The signing of the MRA stands testament to the efforts made by Responsible Tourism Tanzania to incorporate mainstream sustainability practices into tourism operations in order to help safeguard the country's rich culture and sensitive biodiversity.

Under the terms of the MRA, Fair Trade Tourism’s approved travel trade partners and tour operators can now incorporate "Tree Level" tourism products in their product listings, as well as including them in Fair Trade Holidays - holiday packages that represent global best practice in responsible tourism.

Fair Trade Tourism is a leading Southern African non-profit organisation promoting responsible tourism development. It grows awareness about responsible tourism to travellers, assists tourism businesses to operate more sustainably and facilitates a globally recognised certification programme. In 2011 its certification standard became the first in Africa to be recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

Fair Trade Tourism’s expansion into Southern Africa continues to bear fruit as it positions itself at the forefront of the sub-continent's sustainable, responsible tourism efforts, showing both travel trade partners and independent travellers in key source markets that it is now possible to travel the "Fair Trade way" through direct product certification in Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa, as well as through mutual recognition partnerships in Seychelles and Tanzania.

Responsible Tourism Tanzania is an independent NGO registered in Tanzania that aims to encourage and promote a more sustainable tourism industry in the East African nation. It stands for protecting and nurturing the country's diverse cultures and its natural environment, while optimising business and economic sustainability. It also aspires to support and communicate a positive impression of Tanzanian tourism, both locally and globally, believing that the best in Tanzania is yet to come…